Krongkawe Soo-Ampon. Factors influencing marine ornamental fishery involvement : a case study of small-scale fishery community at Had Rawai Village, Phuket. Master's Degree(Natural Resource Management). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Factors influencing marine ornamental fishery involvement : a case study of small-scale fishery community at Had Rawai Village, Phuket
Abstract:
The main objective of this study is to identify the factors influencing small-scale
fishermen to get involved in the marine ornamental fishery in the areas where collecting
marine ornamental fish is illegal. The study also explores local perception toward the
fishery regulation and the marine aquarium industry, and traditional harvesting patterns
in the marine ornamental fishery.
Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data in Thai Mai
Village at Rawai Beach, Phuket Province during October, 2006 to February, 2007.
Snowball sampling technique was employed to identify key informants. Forty-three key
informants were selected from local fishermen who are part time marine ornamental fish
collectors for in-depth interview and socio-economic survey. The validity of the findings
was established by carrying out triangulation in data collection methods including indepth
interview, socio-economic survey, mapping, local identification of marine fish,
and direct observation. Qualitative description, cross site, and descriptive statistical
analyses were used to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively collected data.
The result shows that the villagers are the Urak Lawoi or sea gypsy who have a
traditional livelihood of collecting marine ornamental fish for household consumption
and economic benefits. Their bare hands, hand net, barrier nets, and cyanide collecting
techniques are employed with breath holding or breathing apparatus for diving. The
internal or village based factors contributing to their collecting marine ornamental fish
are comprised of cultural factors such as traditional livelihood, local knowledge, and
social acceptance of the marine ornamental fishery, biophysical factors such as habitats
and abundance of marine ornamental fish, and ability factors such as local fishermens
abilities in fishery activities. The external or supporting factors from outside the village
influencing the marine ornamental fishery involvement of local fishermen are economic
factors such as secured economic incentives, the existence of the market, and the
demand and supply relationship, institutional factors such as financial and pre- and postharvesting
services from traders, and perception factors such as their negative perception
toward the fishery regulation and their positive perception toward the market and the
traditional fishery.